What is the most important thing in this moment?

Being present, but not static… not like a photo. Because this is a river, and there a places to go… towards greater kindness, greater happiness, greater care and mending of the planet and compassion and kindness for all peoples on it. It is not being in the future but being in the now that will flow to the future. It is important to know the direction we wish to go, and make our present actions in harmony with that direction.

My gratitude practice has shifted a little in the last month. I love these questions but I am also filling my day with planting, labor, writing, my relationships, and also writing in the journal of things every day for which I am grateful, to keep it simple. There have been things I’ve wished to share that are not answering the question, perhaps….

My husband gave me a new bird nesting box, and earlier this week he helped me get the box mounted where I wanted it, just four or five feet from the kitchen window over our sink where we wash dishes by hand. I faced the little hole of the little house to the window, so we will be able to see in directly to the nest.

In no time there was a little sparrow, sitting atop it, chirping, fluffing his feathers to look big, and dancing on top of the roof of the little box. I lowered the rattan shade so we wouldn’t spook him every time we came to the sink, but we can still see out clearly. Each day we watched. I started calling him “Mr. Hopeful.” I honestly didn’t think he had much of a chance, but on Sunday we saw not one but 3 females around the house, investigating while he chirped on top, “look at ME!!!”. The next day I saw one female chase another one off the box and away from Mr. Hopeful. The Mrs.

This morning while I got my coffee, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Hopeful “moving in the furniture”… the bits of grass to line their nest.

Have a wonderful day, all.